Footballer Rooney signs for Mercedes

Manchester United footballer Wayne Rooney has signed a two-year deal to act as an ambassador for Mercedes.

Rooney, 22, has been given a customised Mercedes CL63 Coupe worth 121,000 as part of the deal.

The contract is believed to stipulate that Rooney drives a Mercedes to matches and training. In return, he will also be loaned the brand's top models and have use of a chauffeur-driven Mercedes to take him to any public engagements he attends.

Marketing experts, however, have questioned the deal, suggesting that Rooney's reputation could put off some of Mercedes more traditional customers.

Brand analyst Peter York told the Telegraph: 'Ordinarily you'd expect Mercedes to choose someone aspirational and classy to advertise its cars, and it's fair to say that Wayne Rooney doesn't fit that category.

'It's possible it will backfire and put off traditional Mercedes customers - but perhaps Mercedes' choice of Rooney reflects the fact that the kind of people prepared to spend a fortune on a smart car nowadays are not particularly smart people.'

Rooney is already known for his love of cars, with his garage including a BMW X5, Bentley Continental GT, Aston Martin Vanquish, Cadillac Escalade, Range Rover Sport and a Lamborghini Gallardo.